Rutland must live within its means

For the past few weeks there is doom and gloom reported for Rutland, and rightfully so. This was all brought about by not looking to the future coffers, but the future temples. For years I have preached that over spending will catch up with us all and it has. In the January 2 issue of The Landmark Doug Briggs' solution is to cut jobs, don't fund the committees that make this town a community, but also to raze, close, move and build anew. So while preaching we have no money, he also wants to spend more money . This reminds me of the credit card syndrome. "I'll buy now and pay for it later." We can't keep up with this kind of thinking.

The January 10 edition brings about news of a debt exclusion. Debt exclusion adds another tax for the town to get out of debt. There was also talk of charging for illegal dumping into the sewer. This should be done and fines (large fines) put in place for any future violations. I pay for sewer that, along with many others, I never use. This imbalance comes when watering plants, gardens, lawns, pets, filling pools, running the sprinkler . There is no distinction between the amount that comes into the house and the amount that goes out through the sewer lines. So no one else should flow for free.

Now the January 17 edition explains that the debt exclusion will cost an additional tax of $104 on average per home owner. Knowing that there is roughly 3,000 home-owning taxpayers, this bill could be taken care of in about one year if handled appropriately . However, we are not informed of how long the debt exclusion is being requested and why we are again being taxed for the school loan already in our tax bill, other than to say it' s because we are broke.

Maybe when we are building and buying we should think long term and ask do we really need this,can we afford to incur another debt and should we pay a few things off first?

In my household we have to weigh these options as do so many others. Maybe the select men have unlimited funds and can keep up with the rising taxes.But there are lots of families who can't. Doug Briggs's plan to close the community center shuts off the elderly as well as the children and baseball.

And then a one town [trash] hauler. This country was built on competitive business and the right to choose. I truly don't believe that the average person in town does know how to get rid of large items. Besides the garbage company that they have a contract with, there is Earth Day and the junk man.

Balance the budget we have and work to stay balanced. We need to work within our means.